Firefighters were called to the former Macy’s building on Smithfield Street downtown on Saturday.

Firefighters were called to the former Macy’s building on Smithfield Street downtown on Saturday.

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Updated: 6:50 PM EDT Jul 30, 2016

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WEBVTT STARTED? >> WE WERE JUST TOLD THAT THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN STARTED AS ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE BASEMENT OF THE BUILDING AROUND 1:30. WE KNOW CREWS GOT IT UNDER CONTROL AT ABOUT 4:30. FIREFIGHTERS ARE JUST NOW WRAPPING UP. IT TOOK THEM FIVE HOURS TO MAKE SURE THE BUILDING IS NOW SAFE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME PERRY HAS EVER BEEN TO PITTSBURGH. HE DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE THIS. AS HE WATCHED OUTSIDE, A CONSTRUCTION WORKER WAS PANICKING INSIDE. >> THERE WAS A HUGE CRASH THAT SHOOK THE WHOLE BUILDING. DAVID: TWO VESSELS ON THE UPPER FLOOR BUT BUILDING AND COULDN'T FIND ONE OF THE OTHER MEN WORKING. HE TOOK THE ELEVATOR IN THE BOTTOM WHERE WE KNOW THE FIRE STARTED. >> WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR, THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE EVERYWHERE, AND THERE WAS AN ORANGE GLOW AND HEAT. I CAME UP. WE CALLED 911. THEY WANTED US TO EVACUATE THE BUILDING. >> AS A HIGH RISE, IT WAS AUTOMATICALLY A THREE ALARM FIRE. DAVID: EMILY SCHAEFER SAYS THE FACT PEOPLE WERE MISSING CAUSED FO THE EXTRA CALLS FOR HELP. >> INITIALLY, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND THE WORKERS IN THE BUILDING, SO WE RAISED IT TO A SIX-ALARM FIRE. DAVID: EVENTUALLY, EVERYONE WAS ACCOUNTED FOR, POLICE TELLING US THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO WORKERS OR FIREFIGHTERS. >> IT HIT ME RIGHT IN THE FACE AS SOON AS THE DOOR OPENED. DAVID: EMILY SCHAEFER WITH PITTSBURGH POLICE DOES TELL US THAT ALL THE SYSTEMS WERE IN THE BUILDING TO PREVENT FIRE SPREADING DID OPERATE PROPERLY, AND BUILDING INSPECTORS, WE ARE TOLD, WILL BE ON SCENE TO MAKE

Fire crews put out blaze in old Pittsburgh Macy's building

Firefighters were called to the former Macy’s building on Smithfield Street downtown on Saturday.